However, several of the animals passed away before they reached the kennels and more have died in the meantime. A MADRA spokesman said: “Last confirmed report from the kennels told us six pups had unfortunately died.

“I understand one more may have died this morning but that is not yet confirmed. The pup’s previous caretakers allowed them to get into horrendous condition – emaciated, riddled with fleas, lice and roundworm and left in a trailer with no access to food or water.

“They had no reserves to pull from and some had no more fight left in them.”

The remaining puppies are continuing to be cared for and MADRA said it has been “blown away” by public support.

The spokesman added: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our supporters during this crisis. And we are sincerely grateful.

Puppies rescued from an abandoned horse trailer in Galway on July 17 (Image: Facebook/madradogrescue)

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“When faced with this type of cruelty, you help us to maintain hopeful.”

MADRA also revealed the names of the brave pups, saying they called them after superheroes because that’s how they see them. The spokesman said: “Batman, Ivy, Clark, Bruce Banner, Groot, Logan, Jean Grey, Kara, Loki and Diana are still fighting for their lives.

“These little mites have been pushed to their absolute limits and we hope they will find the strength to pull through.

“We have given them superhero names because that is what they are to us. We don’t want to let the deaths of our first six heroes be in vain.”

The surviving puppies are still not out of the woods so MADRA said it is doing everything possible to help them.

They are being cared for by vets and watched closely by kennel crew at the shelter under UV heat lamps.